Immunosuppressive Drug Monitoring (IDM) Service

Laboratory overview

Normal hours of operation are 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday and 09:30 to 14:00 Saturday and Sunday. 

The IDM service provides timely measurement of immunosuppressive drug concentrations using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry

Key features

We are a UKAS accredited medical laboratory (No.9093), accredited to ISO15189:2022 under a flexible scope for the detection of biochemical analytes using mass spectrometry technologies , as described in the 'Management of UKAS Flexible Scope' document (see below). All tests currently included within that flexible scope are listed in the 'Record of tests included in Flexible Scope' document (also below). 

Mycophenolic acid (MPA) is not currently included within the flexible scope, but is accredited to ISO15189:2012 under UKAS Medical Laboratory number: 8805.

The consultant-led service provides specialist support and results to the liver transplant programme at King’s College Hospital, the renal transplant wards at Guy’s and Evelina, as well as the wider transplant and autoimmune disease treatment programmes both nationally and internationally.

Drugs measured by IDM include tacrolimus, ciclosporin, sirolimus, mycophenolic acid (MPA), and everolimus. In addition, the anti-viral drug ribavirin can be measured on request.

Samples should be received in the laboratory by 14:00 on weekdays and 10:30 on weekends and bank holidays for same-day results. For any queries regarding specimens, or to inform the lab of urgent samples, during the week, please contact the IDM lab on: 020 3299 3147. Over the weekend and on bank holidays, laboratory staff can be contacted via the immunosuppressant mobile phone (07718 195096). Please note, staff will only answer this phone during the lab open times.

Please send a request form with adequate patient information and clear contact details to enable efficient communication of urgent results out of hours

Results are notified to EPR, by secure email, and by hard copy.

The IDM service is staffed by experienced clinical and biomedical scientists which not only ensures the integrity of results but also provides assistance and support to medical colleagues with clinical interpretation of results. Clinical leadership and oversight is provided by a consultant in liver transplant and HPB surgery.

Sample Requirements

Tacrolimus, sirolimus, ciclosporin and everolimus:  EDTA whole blood (minimum 2ml)

Mycophenolic acid (MPA): EDTA Plasma – 100µl minimum